TEETHING PRODUCTS COULD BE HARMFUL Teething is normal, but it can be a painful experience for infants and toddlers. Too often, well-meaning parents and caregivers who want to ease a child's pain turn to medications and products that could be harmful. Soothing children's gums with prescription or over-the- counter (OTC) drugs, homeopathic drugs, or teething jewelry marketed for relieving teething pain may seem like good options. But those products can be dangerous and can lead to serious injury or even death. This also applies to older children with special needs who may use teething jewelry for sensory stimulation. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends alternative ways to treat teething pain, including rubbing infants' gums with a clean finger or providing a teething ring made of firm rubber to chew on. For children with sensory stimulation needs, parents and caregivers should talk to their child's health care provider about safer options. On average, children begin teething around 4 to 7 months, and have a total of 20 "baby teeth" by age 3. According to the AAP, occasional symptoms of teething include mild irritability, a low-level fever, drooling, and an urge to chew something hard. Presented as a service to the community by Dr. Barbara Webster 1121 Warren Ave., Suite 130, Downers Grove, IL 60515 630-663-0554 SM-CL 1817827 TEETHING PRODUCTS COULD BE HARMFUL Teething is normal, but it can be a painful experience for infants and toddlers. Too often, well-meaning parents and caregivers who want to ease a child's pain turn to medications and products that could be harmful. Soothing children's gums with prescription or over-the- counter (OTC) drugs, homeopathic drugs, or teething jewelry marketed for relieving teething pain may seem like good options. But those products can be dangerous and can lead to serious injury or even death. This also applies to older children with special needs who may use teething jewelry for sensory stimulation. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends alternative ways to treat teething pain, including rubbing infants' gums with a clean finger or providing a teething ring made of firm rubber to chew on. For children with sensory stimulation needs, parents and caregivers should talk to their child's health care provider about safer options. On average, children begin teething around 4 to 7 months, and have a total of 20 "baby teeth" by age 3. According to the AAP, occasional symptoms of teething include mild irritability, a low-level fever, drooling, and an urge to chew something hard. Presented as a service to the community by Dr. Barbara Webster 1121 Warren Ave., Suite 130, Downers Grove, IL 60515 630-663-0554 SM-CL 1817827